Mud city!!

So, when I was at home I was telling people that when it rains or snows here it gets muddy. But, my words just can't describe how an entire city becomes a mud pit with the tiniest bit of precipitation. We just had a nice snowfall here a couple days ago so I wanted to post a picture to let you in on what it's really like here. (my house is the pink monstrosity on the far right) For those of you who shared good times at the "Pondo"....just imagine the mud there and then put it everywhere and add a few bits and pieces of garbage to it. Fun!

Spotted holiness

In the center of my city stands a gigantic mosque that is a tomb of Hazarat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Mohammed. It is always full of birds, reminiscient of Trafalgar square, except a bit dirtier and less, modernized I guess. The legend is that the more time the birds spend at the mosque, the whiter they become because the place is so holy. It is also said that if they land on your house, it is a blessing for those inside. So, I could either believe that or that they are the most annoying things, making nice white and grayish birdie-poo stains on my house under the window sills.

Today I was standing, gazing out on the city from my second story window of my house. I love to just look out and anonymously watch the goings-ons of my street. There is ALWAYS some group of kids or some men and occasionally the burka clad group of women walking by. I pray for them, I ask God to increase my love for this place, the people. On some mornings I watch the sun rise from behind the mountains or watch the colors dance from yellow, to pink to dark purple on the peaks in the evenings. Today I watched a flock of the "oh so glorious" group of feathered poopers land on my neighbors' house. They caught my attention because most of them weren't reallly white. They were spotted. Some were almost all black with the tiniest spot of white on their tails. Ah, yes. New converts, I quietly mused to myself. Being that it's spring, they must have migrated in and are only beginning the journey to holiness.

Sometimes life would be easier if we could just wear holiness on the outside. We wouldn't have to lie about the jealousy over our friend's success because we'd have a nice big dark spot over our heart telling the world about it. We would have a good reason to ignore the others who were covered in dark color because we knew their deep unholiness. And we could fly with pride when we emerged dazzling white for the world to gaze upon us, dropping our blessings on every person and household we could grace.

But then again, maybe it's good that even though man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart.

Is that you Betty Crocker?

Well, the week is winding down. It's been fairly eventful...a harrowing (but albeit, normal) taxi ride up from the capital, surprise visits from friends who heard I was back, days at the office and afternoons at home resting off my head cold. I've gotten to sit down and catch up with my teammates and local co-workers to hear how things have been going.

Coming back has been such a priviledge of getting reacquainted with the people and the culture. I loved being home but I felt that often times I was defending my calling, defending the people here, sometimes feeling like I was defending God himself (because let's not forget, He was the one who called me to be a part of what HE's doing in this place.) Once arriving here, no one was asking me "Why are you THERE? Isn't it dangerous?" And I know I have a huge support base at home and a cheering section and a wonderful group of people who pray for me and pray for the people here, but sometimes I get the feeling some people are just holding their breath, waiting for me to get through this phase and move on to the next, less dangerous, less crazy thing (like grad school!) All I would ask is that you don't hold your breath too long, because it could be a good long while.

Today I watched a movie called "Magdalene." Fantastic! It's the J. film but it's told from the perspective of Mary Magdalene and emphasizes our Savior's interaction with women and how he gave them dignity and restored their honor. So, it shows a lot of His teaching and tells the story of his life, but it pauses on the woman who was bleeding for 12 years, the woman at the well, the women who ministered beside the disciples, the woman caught in adultery, and of course, Mary Magdalene herself. For those of you in ministry to the same type of culture and religion I am I highly recommend getting a copy of it. It's not out in the local language yet, but will be soon. It will be a tool I will have plenty of opportunities to use.

Some other news I wanted to pass on to my loyal blog readers was my pride at baking yet another new thing from scratch! So far I've learned how to make pumpkin pie from scratch (like from the actual pumpkin, not from a can), bagels, pizza, biscotti, and the list goes on. Today I added TORTILLAS!!!! They looked just like the ones from the store except a little misshappen. I'm telling you, this whole experience has made me a lot more domestic! ha!

Home Sweet Home

After a three day journey across three continents in a plane and couple taxis, I arrived HOME! I have to tell you it was the strangest feeling to land in the country and have that "breathe a sigh of relief after a long journey away" feeling when you come home. That's what this place feels like to me now. That was also not something I was expecting upon returning.

In Dubai I waited overnight in the same airport terminal that I did a year and a half ago upon first entering this country for full-time work. The terminal had changed a bit, (thankgoodness! They put chairs in and a better coffee shop that served more than nescafe. So, I didn't have to sit on the floor and gag down instant coffee this time!) While I was sitting there I was realizing how much life and I have changed since I sat in that very spot just a year and a half ago. I thought how amazing it would be to have the Danika now sit down and have a talk with the Danika a year and a half ago. I wrote about that in my journal while I was there and wanted to write it here to share with you all:

"I would tell her to humble herself and just soak up the experiences. I would tell her to seek intimacy with Jesus above all else. I would tell her not to be so driven to be productive. I would tell her to allow herself to be broken and to learn from failure (and that failure WILL come!) I would tell her to enjoy the people and learn from them--just watch and listen. I would tell her to press hard into language because it sure does pay off and it is in conversation (along with love and time and effort) that relationships are fostered.

"I would tell her that beauty lies within and it cannot be destroyed or marred by man because it wells up from within, and the source is the River of LIFE, Jesus himself.

"I would tell her not to run from the difficult times for there she will meet her Savior face-to-face.
I would tell her to rest, take care of herself and not to be ashamed when she's weak. God truly is strength in our weakness.
I would tell her that she is loved, passionately, deeply, more intimately than she will ever know.

"And I would hug her and tell her she's not alone, that no matter where her two feet take her, she doesn't take those steps alone. No matter how overwhelming the loneliness becomes, she has a Companion, a Leader, a Protector and Provider on that journey."

Wow...who knew experience could dump that much wisdom on you just from a year and a half! And those lessons definitely didn't come easy or in a neatly defined and well-written manual. I hope I heed my own advice in the days to come. I could really use prayer. I'm diving back into leadership. The team seems to be really healthy and stable, praise God. But, we have some big decisions and a lot of work ahead of us to prepare for what's coming this spring. I'll be getting into that on Sunday when our work-week begins.

The wide, wide world

Well friends, and whoever else happens to glance at this blog...It's the night before I leave and my bags are all packed. I spent 4 hours on the phone today just saying goodbyes. I can't believe 3 months has flown by so fast. I was thinking today this time has been bitter-sweet...but then I changed my mind because when I think of bitter-sweet it seems that it's more negative than positive. Yes, the death of my brother was like a gash through my heart, nothing positive about that. However, there have been sweet, sweet times here...with family and friends but the sweetest have been my times alone with the Lord. I've sobbed so much in these last few months, the whole body wrenching, gasping sobbing. But, in the release of the pain in my heart, I've felt the peace of God descend on me like nothing I could put into words. And I have this eye-opening glimpse of eternity that was somewhat clouded before my world getting flipped upside-down. I have come to understand that death is not an ending but a moving on and that the reality of life in a fallen world, that is what is bittersweet about this. We are living in the shadow of promises fulfilled. Our glory is still to come. We live with war, disease, pain, tears, divorce, famine, etc. Perfection, ultimate beauty, everlasting fulfillment is still only a hope in our hearts, but for those who have passed on to the next life, their hope is reality. wow.

So the other great news, I just talked to my Dad on the phone tonight and he read me my ACCEPTANCE letter from Wheaton! Now I'm just waiting for them to tell me that they are giving me money to study at their school! So, Masters of Intercultural Studies, here I come!

I will keep this blog updated and would love emails and comments and communication from EVERYONE! It really makes my day and I love being able to stay in touch even being half a world away.

What do you think?

Here are a few quotes in some books I was reading this summer that really struck me. I'm not offering my thoughts (so as not to influence) but would love to hear some of yours!

I leave on Monday...prayer would be appreciated. (particularly, I need a miracle for my finances right now.)

"Missionary work is a grain of sand, the work untouched is a pyramid....Face it. Look and listen, alone with God. Then go, let go, help go. But never, never, never think that anything short of this is being 'interested in missions.' Never, until this point is reached and passed, delude yourself into believing that you care at all."
from A Chance to Die, by Elizabeth Eliot (biography of Amy Carmichael)

"...But we must remember that it was not by interceding for the world in glory that Jesus saved it. He gave Himself. Our prayers for the evangelization of the world are but a bitter irony so long as we only give of our superfluity and draw back before the sacrafice of ourselves."
from On the Threshold of C. Africa, by M. Coiland

David Crowder Band Concert

Wow...
I just got back from seeing David Crowder Band in concert this evening. It was, mmmm, cathartic may be the right word. Their music is meant to be experienced, not just heard. It was incredible.

And it got me thinking about my kitchen in C. Asia. Why?, you ask. Well...when I cook (our team takes turns cooking dinner), I enjoy a bit of music and David Crowder Band is one of my favs. I remember one really crappy day where I was in one of those "I just want to pack up my bags and get out of here" moods. So, I brought out my ipod and my speakers but the electricity went out. (explative!) So, I put my headphones on and cranked up the sound and was literally jumping around and singing "you are my joy, you are my joy, you are my JOOOOOYYYYYYY!!!" at the top of my lungs. Now, my kitchen door and window look out into my yard (the kitchen is not connected to the inside of the house except through a porch) and our night watchman was out there watching the crazy western woman performing live in the kitchen.

Then I'm at this concert jumping around and singing at the top of my lungs again and Mr. Crowder probably has no idea that his songs are being performed live in Asia.

A trip to the coast

Yesterday I hiked a couple hours around the preserve that my aunt and uncle live on and today I tramped down the trail along the coast. Beautiful!!!! The weather was great, the wildlife was abundant and my soul was ALIVE!! It's hard to believe next week I'll be back to the desert. It makes days like this even sweeter.